Karl Rove is no conservative, as his memoir shows (stating the obvious alert)

Washington Post ^ | April 4, 2009 | Craig Shirley and Donald Devine

[Magnatron]

As I always used to tell my left-wing friends:

“I don’t know what you all are whining about. Bush is the best Democrat the Republicans ever elected!”

[Free_at_last_-2001]

He’s a Republican. These days that just means socialism at a slower pace. - how very true!

[Psalm 144]

I really enjoyed listening to Rove’s recent interview with Rush Limbaugh. Rush did not interrupt or talk over Rove, kept all questions on point and focused, and in about 10 minutes I knew why we were left with nothing of the Reagan revolution at the end of the Bush-Clinton-Bush years of complacency.

The ‘architect’. Heh. More like the ‘arsonist’.

[Parley Baer]

You mean to tell me the WAPO knows what a conservative is? They still do not get the tea pary movement.

[Psalm 144]

I think the first “neo-conservatives” were responsible for the Tower of Babel.

[Psalm 144]

I agree with your sentiments, but would point out that Ford never, ever pretended to be a conservative.

[SpaceBar]

Karl Rove told a room full of reporters at a dinner a few years back that there was nothing that we could do about illegal immigration. We are where we are precisely because of people like Mr. Rove. The sooner he is tossed in the wastebin of history the better.

[Luke21]

I remember all the Bushbots here always beating up on people who said we were going to be clobbered in 2006 and 2008, and then blaming people for not vigorously supporting their Rino’s with enough vigor and enthusiasm. This can still be seen in some threads. The message: “Rino candidates and spineless Republicans aren't the problem. Voters are.”

Republicans have to have a positive plan and mean it. The Roves of the world don't stand for anything but their own viability. He was a horrible adviser, and contributed to Bush being absolutely tone deaf. Like you said, neither of those elections should have been as close as they were, and Bush had next to zero credibility by the end of his presidency.

Hannity calls Rove, “the architect.” He's certainly that. He built this political outhouse we live in right now.

[Will88]

Rove’s next book should be about how he and W managed to move Republican’s from arguably their strongest position of power in anyone’s memory in 2004, to one of their weakest positions in memory by 2008.

[SoConPubbie]

In his memoir, Rove defends the Bush record as a truly conservative one. ... "Just look at his tax cuts, pro-life and pro-family stands; his support of free trade and reducing regulation; his belief that competition improves health care, the environment and Social Security; and his insistence on education results."

Rove thinks were all stupid and his used care salesman tricks still work.

They don't.

There was nothing conservative about:

1. Medicare Expansion
2. No Child Left Behind
3. The brazen attempt at Amnesty
4. His signing of the McCain-Feingold bill and passing his responsibility to the Supreme Court.
5. His total lack of fiscal responsibility.

There was no small-government approach to GWB or Rove.

[AlanD]

“Hannity calls Rove, “the architect.” He’s certainly that. He built this political outhouse we live in right now. “

Karl Rove is the “Architect”? Rove and GWB were a two man GOP Wrecking Crew. Some Architect. Tom Delay (dancing with the stars) was another one.

[AlanD]

You are completely right. Just about a year ago it was considered “heresy” to say anything critical about George W. Bush. Hannity and Limbaugh were also roped into the defend Bush club.

Fortunately, people are starting to wake up to what hit us in the last decade, and how we came to have a marxist in the White House now.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

Statement: "Karl Rove is no conservative, as his memoir shows...."

Response: Probably true but one gives him a hearing anyway. We are not mind numbed robots; Mr. Rove's statements can be checked in most instances.

[huskerjim]

Look up “Karl Rove Religion”. He was raised as a Mormon, but some say he is agnostic or atheist.

[RED SOUTH]

I remember before 2008 most of the folks around here loved Bush and Rove and if anyone dared to say the least little thing about the liberalism of Bush , you just about got ran out of this forum.....Just Saying. I thought free republic was a forum for rino's. Seriously...

[Jim W N]

I don’t know, possibly some misguided perception somewhere.

[freespirited]

I agree with the criticisms in the article, but am less sure that Karl gave them out of personal conviction than out of a belief that these actions would grow the GOP. For ex, we are all familiar with Karl’s belief that the GOP is the natural place for Hispanics because of their family values. He still believes this despite years of contrary election results.

My best guess is that Karl is more conservative personally than the advice he gave Dubya but thought some of these hare-brained ideas would bring more people into the GOP. I do enjoy his appearances on FOX.

[Liberty Valance]

Karl Rove is a political tactitian. I’ve never heard him referred to as a conservative.

[ohioWfan]

The long knives are out. Probaby best to let them rant.

I guarantee that none of them have, nor will read Rove's book.

He can't continue to be the antiChrist (as he is, coincidentally, to the radical left), if they actually know what he thinks.

[Guenevere]

You're absolutely right!..

.Before 2008...during 2007 when the illegal immigration salvo hit me smack in the head, I, as well as many here, overlooked & overlooked & overlooked many red flags...

...once I was gobsmacked, there was no turning back...my eyes were open.